| OCR Text |
Show f HE LION'S WHELPl A Story of Cromwell's Timo BV AMELIA E. BARR. h Author of "Tho Dow of Orn. Ribbon." "I. Thou and tho Othor Ono." Tli Maid of Maiden, Larvo." Etc. opffl''i m I Uodd MrJ ft Compmi). All iltlitt rr.nrved ) 1 " ' ' I "- mm i.i 1 ! -urn . J CHAPTER VJII.-(Continued.) There was no use prolonging n conversation bo hfip'-legf. Sho was both atiry and noruful, nnd sho sought out hur mother and found her resting In lior own room. "1 get tired 'soon In thP ,inv Jnno.. she said, "I thlnlcy the London nlr. and the strange iW. and the constant fear of some change n0 one gPom8 to know what a daj win bring forth. Did you seo Stephen?" "Yes." "It can't he, I-suppoje?" "You know It,, i-an't l)er. mother." Shokwas hurt at the qtieetlon. It was a wrong to Cluny, and sho said 1 with Bomo temper, "it could not bo under any circumstances. Tho man Is mean, ho has just threatened me. If I had not been a woman I uould have glvon him his threat back la his tooth. I would rather bo Gluny's wife, It Cluny had not a crownt1' Tho next day'Cymlin. wont to .lev-cry .lev-cry House and reported on his return, its forlorn emptiness There were only two or threeservants there, and they had no ,Mdea whn tho family would return. . . Aoout a woek after Matilda's departure de-parture Cluny called oarly one ovon-lng ovon-lng and asked, Jano to go with him to Mr. Milton's house In Petty Franco. They sauntered i through St. James' park, and soon lost Bight of all humanity, hu-manity, and were conscious only of each other's presence. So much so, that thoy never noticed a figure which emerged from behind a clump of shrubs', nnd stood looking at them. It was tho Lord General His face was grave, hut 'not unhappy, and when ho saw Cluny nnd Jano ho stood still a inoment, and then quietly withdrew Into tho shadow ho had left. A smile was round his mouth, and his lips moved In words of blessing bless-ing us ho took another path to the ! gato ho wished, nnd there was a 'feeling of pleasure yrt In his heart whon ho ontorod the sombre apart- thlugs which liinlten spring so delightful. delight-ful. Karly In tho morning Jano's friends called for her, and thoy went away together full of youth's onthuslnsm and anticipation. They took tho mad to the river, and to the sound of music1 nnd tho falling nnd dipping of tho oara they roachod Richmond nnd soon sproad the contents con-tents of tholr hampors upon tho grass under somo grent oaks In tho secluded seclud-ed park. Aftor a happy, leisurely meal, thoy spent tho rest of tholr holiday In wandering wan-dering through tho palace, until Its meluncholy, monastic grandeur subdued sub-dued thom almost to silouce. It was llko passing from death unto llfo to come out of those caverns Into tho light, and glory of tho west-orlng west-orlng sun, to feel Its, warmth, and seo ie biave colors, and hear tho cuckoo, llko n wandering voice among tho treofl. Soon thoy wero at tho river stairs, and as thoy passed through tho city they woro Instantly aware of groat oxeltomont. It was Impossible not to fool that something of great moment hnd hnppenod. or was going to happen; and when Jano entered tho hall at Sandys and snw Doctor Verity's hat and cloak thore, she expected ex-pected that he had como with Information. In-formation. The next moment Mrs. Swaffham came hurriedly forward. "Mother," cried Jano, -what Is the matter? What hts happened?" And Mrs. Swaffham answered: "Tho strangest thing that ever happened hap-pened In England." Even whilo hIio spoke thoy hoard Gon. Swaffham coming up the steps, tho clatter of his arms emphasizing his porturbed feollngs. He had scarcely entered the door ore Doctor Verity camo Into tho hall crylngi "Is It true, Israel? la It true?" "Quito truo." ,- - r "And well dono?" "We,Jl done. I am suro of it.'' ! Men and women wont lntb tho parlor par-lor together, nnd a servant began, to vv.-'i iIlHiniTi3!! , "Take that bauble awayl" mont wherp Israel Swaffham. with a guard of soldlors, was ln attendanco. Ho then ontorod a 'lofty, royally furnished room, whero tho council wero waiting his arrivaj-j-omcors of tho army, and members' of Parliament. Parlia-ment. Cromwell opened the discussion by reminding tho membors that ho had already hold moro than a dozen meetings, meet-ings, in order to induce Parliament to lssuo an Act for tho election of a now Parliament, and then discharge Itsolf. "This Is what tho popple want In overy corner of tho nation,' ho said, "and thoy are laying at our doors the- non-porformnnce of this duty and of their wishes." ' " Hazelrlg rominded himtthat Parliament Parlia-ment had dotormlned tSMJssolvo on tho 3d of tho ensuinjH'fNovombor, aftor calllnc for a now election. "It is now only the 19tli of April," answered Gromwoll, shafpjy. "Glvo mo leave to toll you thattho 3d of Novomber will not do. Sucji a far-off promlso is but words for cjfilldron. I will hotter it. I will say tomorrow." This speech had a marked effect Tho Parliamentary members agreed to let tho bill for porpotuatlng thorn-selves thorn-selves llvo over until afjor another conforonce to bo hold the following day, and with this understanding, the mombors of tho Council separated. CHAPTER IX. - i, Cromwell Interferes'., Daylight camo with thaspft radiance radi-ance of sunshine over freshv groan remove tho General's cavalry boots and spurs. "I told you, Doctor, this morning, that a settlement of somo kind must como today. When I roachod Whitehall J found tho Lord Gonoral waiting for Sir Harry Vano and tho members who had promised to como and continue the conference relating to the hill early In tho day. Tho Gonoral was occupying himself with a book, but as tho hours went by ho grew rostlooe nnd laid It down. Thou ho turned to mo and said, 'Truly thoao men aro long in coming; nro you rondy, General?' and boforo I could answer ho asked again 'ready and willing?' I told hjm a word would move my troop an ono man, if that word camo from himself, and ho waited silently a little longor. Then Lord Cluny Novlllo came in vory hastily, and snld a few words, I Jaiow not what thoy were, and ho had scarce gone whon Col', Ingdldsby entered, en-tered, and thore was no secrecy then. '"My lord!' ho cried, 'Parliament Is sitting at this moment, and Sir Harry Vano, Slduoy and Henry Mar-ton Mar-ton aro urging tho Immedlato passage pass-age of tho bill so hateful to tho wholo nation.' "Thon Cromwoll rousod hlmsolf llko an angry lion. His passion at this perfidious conduct loapad Into (lame, ho shouted to Lambert and his own troop of Ironsides. Ho gavo mo tho signal I understood, and we wont quickly to tho Parliament house. "But what than?" naked Doctor Verity, hla face burning with the eaxM soul behind It. ( "I stood nt tho door watchlnjr him MWmLWLW my 111011 being In tho lobby. He ..ilLiH wont to his usunl seat, but in a 'HEJllH vory groat and mnjostlc manner, and jfHHBI for a little while ho listened to the HHB dobnte. Then he beckoned Mnjol liHigH General Harrison and told him h IHpHHi judged 'It was high tlmo to dissolve liHfl this Parliament ' And Harrison told SfliLLDi me this nfierrnon, that ho advlsod VflHH Cromwoll to consider what ho would hKHH do, for It, was a work groat and dan- ftHfflHBl gerous, nnd who. he asked, 'Is suffl jHHiil dent for it?' And Cromwoll answer- iflifl ed. -The Servant of tho Lord, ho 1a Hl sulllclent,' yut bo snt down again, ssiiil looking at me ns ho did so. and I look- BmmwLM ed back straight into his oyos that liiifl 1 and mine could be depended on. iH "In a few minutes tho question for H passing the bill was put. and tho man H could bo restrained no longer. He stood up, took off his hat, and looked around tho Houso, and It quailed H under his eyes, overy man in It shift H ed on his seat and. was uneasy. He ,. H began to speak, and it was with 0 H tongue of tlame. He reproached H thom for tholr solf-seeklng and tholi tttM hypocrisy nnd oppression, nnd as he H went on, thcro was tho roar of a lion H in his voire, nnd tho mombors, being condemned of their own consciences, H cowered, before H "Did no ono open their mouth him?" iifl "No ouo but Sir Petor Wentworth. ppiil Ho said, 'My Lord General, this Par- H llamont hns done grent things for H England,' and Cromwell answered, 'The spoke In tho wheel that creaks most does not bear tho burden In the ' H cart!' Then Sir Potor told Cromwoll H his nbuao of the Parliament was tho . ''''H more horrid because It came from tho, B sorvant of tho Parliament, tho man H thoy had trusted and obliged." At these words Dr. Verjty laughed .H loudly "Cromwoll, the sorvant of iLiiB such a Parliament!" he cried. "Not sf ho; what then, Israel?" .H "Ho told Wont worth to be qiiloU jH Ho said ho had heard enough of such H talk, and putting on hla hat, he look 'H tho l)oor of the House. I watched H him as ho did so. Ho breathed in- 'H ward, llko one who hns a bualness of llfo and death In hand. I could see H on Ms faco that he was going to do H tho deed that had been the secret ot . H his breast for many days; and his H walk waa that quick atrldo wlth which he over wont to meet an H enemy. Ho stood in the middle of H tho House, arid began to nccuso tho - H members personally. His wolds, H wero awordB. He flung them at the' , -U -iu.w-iNthey-w!ro -javolins-;-8lfdtrr" mr LLLl thom In their faces as if from a pis- rLLH tol. Ho told them that the Lord had IHH dono with thom. He said thoy wore "-tLLfl no Parliament, and that ho had boon jH sent to put an end to their sitting H and their prating. H "And nt theso words Cluny No- H vlllo apoke to tho Sergeant, nnd ho . H opened tho doors, nnd somo muskot- ) eers entorcd tho House. Then Sir Harry Vano cried out, 'This la not H honest, nnd Cromwoll reminded him H of his own broken promise, nnd thoy i H began to go out, at first slowly, and . iil then In n hurry, treading on tho hoels fiLH other." TiLLh "What of Lenthall? Ho has a stub-. lisLLa born ''ipH "He sat still in tho Speaker's chair, H until Cromwell ordered him, to come , H down. For n inoment ho 'hesitated, H but Geu. Harrison snld, 'I will lend you my baud, sir;' and so he also "But was tliero no attempt to stay H such dismissals? I am amazed, dumb- founded!" said Doctor Vcrtly. -' H "Alderman Alien, tho Treasurer of tlio Army, as ho went out $ald somo- thing to Cromwoll which angered hint. H vory much; and ho then nnd there charged Allen with a shortago of one hundred thousand pounds, nnd com- mltted him to the caro of a musket' eer for oxnmlnutlon. I toll you, there was no gainsaying the Cromwoll of tills hour. Ho was moro than mor- H tal man; and Vano nndctho others, H knew, If they had not known before, , H why ho waa never defeated In bat-v. H "Aftor the Spanker had left, what ?-' H then?" '''" l H "His eyo foil upon the Mace, and ha H said scornfully to somo of the Iron JU sides, 'Take that bauble away!1 Then -i H ho ordered the muskoteors to clear H Uie Houso, he himself walking up to "'' , its Clerk nnd taking from under his ' JM arm tho bill which had caused ths H troublo, and which was roady to H pass. Ho ordered tho man to go H home, and ho slipped away without tt a qiioatlon. Cromwoll was the lasl H soul to Joave tho Chambor, nnd as , H ho wont out of It ho locked tho door and put the key In his pockot. Ha thon walked quietly back to hla jH rooms in the Cockpit." .AWmm "Ho will need God on his right filial hand and on his left," said Doctor Xppa Vority. "Moro than wo can tell will HpLl come of this Implacablo hostility, H rancorons jonlouay, ovorlaatlng envy jH nnd spite. Tho mombors " H "Tho membors," interrupted Gen, H Swaffham, "havo tied themselves, H linnda and foot, with cords of their jH own spinning, and Olivor Cromwell H holds Uie ends of thom, They will H not daro to opon tholr mouths." ' H (To bo contlinK!d,) H |
